Muffler



Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc MUFFLER Harry A. R. Klemm, Rutherford, N. J. Application October 16, 1942, Serial No. 462,218 claims. (Cl. 1814-48) The invention relates to mulllers and more particularly to muiilers of the type incorporated in automotive vehicles for silencing the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engines of such vehicles.

'Ihe invention has for its object to provide a muler constructed in a novel manner adapting it for eiiicient association with a variety of different types of engines andvehicles in which the latter are embodied.

The invention contemplates further the provision of a, muiller capable of being adjusted lengthwise and rotatably to fit different engines and vehicles, without in any way affecting its eiciency and without requiring any particular skill on the part of the mechanic.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of'novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates an example of the invention without defining its I limits,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the novel muiler;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the muiller, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section of clamping means included in the muier.

The novel muiller comprises a plurality of hollow sections adjustably associated with each other and provided interiorly With muilling means, said munie further including a secondary inlet and secondary outlet capable of being adjusted to a pluralityof` operative positions.

In its illustrated form the novel mufller comprises a hollow main section I0 and opposite hollow` end sections II and I2 telescopically fitted into said main section Ill and adjustable in axial directions relatively thereto. In the preferred form the sections I Il, II and I2 are cylindrical in formso as to be capable of rotation relatively to each other about the longitudinal axis of the muffler. For convenience the end section I I may @be termed the inlet end section, in which case the other end section may be referred to as the outlet end section. It will be understood however that, in practice, the muiller is reversible and that either end section II or I2 may serve as an inlet or outlet section and lized as such.

The outer ends of the sections II and I2 are provided witn'end plates I3 and I4 respectively,

may be selectively utiand secured in place in any convenient manner as by welding or the like. In the illustrated example the end plates I3 and I4 are fitted into the ends of the sections II and I2 and are provided With annular flanges I5 lying in surface engagement with the inner surfaces of said end sections II and I2 and secured thereto in any well-known manner, as by welding. The end plates I3 and I4 are provided with inwardly directed annular bosses I6 and I'I respectively, for the purpose to be fully set forth hereinafter.

The muilling means within the sections of the muiiler may be of any suitable construction, and as shown, comprises bailles I8 having perforations I 9 and suitably secured in place as by Welding or the like, preferably in the end sections II and I2 at the respective inner ends thereof. In addition the illustrated muling means comprises tubes 20 and 2| having one end mounted on the respective bosses IE and I'I and extending through the bailies I8 into telescopic slidable engagement with each other as shown in Fig. l. The tubes 2n and 2| are provided with perforations 22 which establish communication betweenv the interiors of said tubes 20 and 2l and the interiors of the sections I0, II and I2 which surround said tubes 20 and 2l.

The bosses I6 and I'l are internally screwthreaded for the accommodation selectively of 'a suitable outlet adapter 23 or closing plug 24, and are located at the centers of the respective end plates I3 and I4. Similarly the tubes 20 and 2l register with the major longitudinal axis of the muffler and with the bosses I6 and Il constitute what is commonly known as the through-pass of said muflier.

In addition to the partsI so far described, the end plates I3 and I4 are provided with secondary annular bosses 25 and 26 respectively, located radially outward relatively to the bosses I6 and Il. The secondary annular bosses 25 and 26 are internally screwthreaded for the accommodation selectively of a suitable inlet adapter 21 or closing plug 2B which may be a duplicate of the previously mentioned plug 24. 'I'he secondary annular bosses 25 and 26 constitute secondary inlets and outlets which are adjustable to a plurality of operative positions by rotating the sections II and I2 relatively to the section IIJ.

The muiller further includes novel clamping means whereby the sections ID, II and I2 are releasably xed against relative movement, and specifically in practice, whereby the end sections I I and I2 are releasably secured against axial and rotative movements relatively to the main section Il..

In its illustrated form the clamping means comprises nexible clamping bands 29 o! metal or other suitable material having their opposite tree end coiled upon themselves to iorm bearings Il and 3| respectively, for preferably cylindrical members 32 and 33, respectively. Each member I2 is provided with a transverse opening 34 adapted to register with openings 35 formed at opposite points in the bearing 30, and each member 33 is provided with an internally screwthreaded opening 3l arranged to register with openings 31 of the bearing 3l.

The clamping means further includes bolts 38 which pass loosely through the openings 35 and transverse opening 34, and at least one opening 31 into screwthreaded engagement with the opening 3B o! each clamping band 29.

With this arrangement the clamping bands 29 will be contracted and expanded as the bolts 33 are screwed into or out of the openings 38 oi the members 33. At the same time the members 32 and 33 will automatically adjust themselves for proper co-operation with the bolts 38 as contraction and expansion of the bands 29 takes place.

In practice, the novel muffler is installed in the automotive vehicle in the customary manner. I! the installation is such as to permit this to be done, the adapter 21 is threaded/into the boss I6 and connected thereby with the exhaust of the engine through the medium of the conventional exhaust outlet 39. In such case the plug 23 is threaded into the secondary boss 25 to close the secondary inlet thereof. If this arrangement is not possible because of speciiic construction and location of the engine exhaust 39, the closing plug 28 may be screwed into the boss I8 and the adapter 21 threaded into the secondary boss 25. 'I'he end section Il may then be rotated relatively to the main section II) to bring the adapter 21 into the proper operative position for eriicient connection with the exhaust pipe 39.

Similarly the adapter 23 may be threaded into the boss I1 at the outlet end of the muiiler for connection -with the tail pipe 40 through which the exhaust gases escape to the atmosphere. In such case the plug 24 will be threaded into the secondary boss 26. On the other hand, if this is not feasible because of special and specific associate construction, the adapter 23 may be threaded into the secondary boss 26 and the plug 24 in such case threaded into the boss I1. The outlet section I2 may then be rotated relatively to the main section IIl to bring the adapter 23 into proper operative position for connection with the tail pipe 40.

It will be understood that prior to the rotative adjustments of the end sections Il and I2 relatively to the main section III, the bolts 33 are unscrewed or loosened to relieve the clamping action of the clamping bands 29 to thereby i'acilitate the aforesaid rotative adjustment of the end sections Il and I2. Subsequent to this latter adjustment and after the adapters 23 and 21 or either of them have been set in the most efficient operative positions, the bolts 38 are screwed into the members '33 to thereby contract the clamping bands 29 into clamping engagement with the section Ill which is thereby caused to clamp the end sections II and I2 against rotative movement relatively to the main section I0.

Likewise the axial length of the muilier may be adjusted to properly meet the conditions o! any installation by simply relieving the clamping pressure of the clamping bands 2l as previously described herein. whereupon one or both of the end sections Il and I2 may be telescopically adjusted into or out of the main section Il until the desired and proper length o! muiiier has been attained. The clamping bands 2l are thereupon contracted by manipulation of the bolts I8 to fix the end sections II and I2 or either oi them in the adjusted position.

In some cases the mumer may include only one end section telescopically and rotatably combined with the main section I0 to provide for the aforesaid adjustments.

The universal adjustability of the novel mulder enables it to be used efficiently in any installation and to be operatively installed in a simple manner and without requiring any particular skill on the part oi the mechanic.

Because of this universal adjustability, it is unnecessary for instance for a garage or repair shop to maintain on hand a large stock of diiferent types oi' specially constructed mufiiers to meet the requirements of different types of automotive vehicles and different types of power plants therein. With the instant novel universal adjustable muilier only a. relatively small supply thereof need be maintained to enable the garage or repair shop to meet any installation requirements which may arise.

Various changes in the specific form shown and described may be made within the scope oi the claims without departing from the spirit oi the invention.

I claim:

1. A muiiler of the kind described comprising a plurality of hollow sections rotatably associated with each other, an end plate provided in the outer end of one of said sections, muiiling means within said sections, and an inlet connection on said end plate rotatably adjustable thereby about the axis of the muiiier to a plurality of operative positions.

2. A muiller of the kind described comprising a plurality oi hollow sections rotatably associated with each other, an end plate provided in the outer end of one of said sections, mufiling means within said sections, and a tail pipe connection on said end plate rotatably adjustable thereby about the axis of the muiiler to a plurality of operative positions.

3. A muiller of the kind described comprising a plurality of hollow sections rotatably associated with each other, end plates provided in the outer ends of said sections, muliling means Within said sections, an inlet connection on the end plate of one of said sections rotatably adjustable thereby about the axis of the muiller to a plurality o1 op erative positions, and' a tail pipe connection on the end4 plate of another of said sections rotatably adjustable thereby about the axis ot the muiller to diiIerent operative positions relatively to said inlet connection.

4. A muiiier of the kind described comprising a cylindrical tubular main section, a cylindrical tubular end section telescopically and rotatably associated with said main section for axial and rotative adjustment relatively thereto, telescopically and rotatively combined muilling means within said sections axially and rotatively adjustable therewith, a plurality of connections located on said end sections in registry with the axis thereof and in radially outward spaced relation to said axis respectively, the radially outward spaced connections being adjustable by the relative rotation of said end sections to selected operative positions, and means for nxing said sections and muiiling means in adjusted positions.

5. A muiiler of the kind described comprising a cylindrical tubular main section, inlet and outlet end sections telescopically associated with said main section for axial and rotative adjustment relatively thereto, end plates carried by said end sections at the respective outer ends thereof, annular bosses projecting inwardly fromthe respective end plates at the centers thereof to provide central inlet and outlet connections, perforated batlies carried by said end sections at the respective inner ends thereof, perforated tubes connected with said bosses and extending through said bailles into telescopic association with each other and partaking of the axial and rotative adjustments of said end sections to provide an adjustable through passage in said muiiier, secoutlet connections which are not in use at a given time and with a given adjustment of said sec- V15 tions.

HARRY A. R. KLEMM. 

